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For past seven years, Israeli companies have been helping Gerogian army to preparer for war against Russia through arms deals, training of infantry units and security advice
By Arie Egozi | The fighting which broke out over the weekend between Russia and Georgia has brought Israel’s intensive involvement in the region into the limelight. This involvement includes the sale of advanced weapons to Georgia and the training of the Georgian army’s infantry forces.
The Defense Ministry held a special meeting Sunday to discuss the various arms deals held by Israelis in Georgia, but no change in policy has been announced as of yet.
“The subject is closely monitored,” said sources in the Defense Ministry. “We are not operating in any way which may counter Israeli interests. We have turned down many requests involving arms sales to Georgia; and the ones which have been approves have been duly scrutinized. So far, we have placed no limitations on the sale of protective measures.”
Israel began selling arms to Georgia about seven years ago following an initiative by Georgian citizens who immigrated to Israel and became businesspeople.
“They contacted defense industry officials and arms dealers and told them that Georgia had relatively large budgets and could be interested in purchasing Israeli weapons,” says a source involved in arms exports.
The military cooperation between the countries developed swiftly. The fact that Georgia’s defense minister, Davit Kezerashvili, is a former Israeli who is fluent in Hebrew contributed to this cooperation.
“His door was always open to the Israelis who came and offered his country arms systems made in Israel,” the source said. “Compared to countries in Eastern Europe, the deals in this country were conducted fast, mainly due to the defense minister’s personal involvement.”
Among the Israelis who took advantage of the opportunity and began doing business in Georgia were former Minister Roni Milo and his brother Shlomo, former director-general of the Military Industries, Brigadier-General (Res.) Gal Hirsch and Major-General (Res.) Yisrael Ziv.
Roni Milo conducted business in Georgia for Elbit Systems and the Military Industries, and with his help Israel’s defense industries managed to sell to Georgia remote-piloted vehicles (RPVs), automatic turrets for armored vehicles, antiaircraft systems, communication systems, shells and rockets.
According to Israeli sources, Gal Hirsch gave the Georgian army advice on the establishment of elite units such as Sayeret Matkal and on rearmament, and gave various courses in the fields of combat intelligence and fighting in built-up areas.
‘Don’t anger the Russians’
The Israelis operating in Georgia attempted to convince the Israeli Aerospace Industries to sell various systems to the Georgian air force, but were turned down. The reason for the refusal was “special” relations created between the Aerospace Industries and Russia in terms of improving fighter jets produced in the former USSR and the fear that selling weapons to Georgia would anger the Russians and prompt them to cancel the deals.
Israelis’ activity in Georgia and the deals they struck there were all authorized by the Defense Ministry. Israel viewed Georgia as a friendly state to which there is no reason not to sell arms systems similar to those Israel exports to other countries in the world.
As the tension between Russia and Georgia grew, however, increasing voices were heard in Israel – particularly in the Foreign Ministry – calling on the Defense Ministry to be more selective in the approval of the deals with Georgia for fear that they would anger Russia.
“It was clear that too many unmistakable Israeli systems in the possesion of the Georgian army would be like a red cloth in the face of a raging bull as far as Russia is concerned,” explained a source in the defense establishment.
For inctance, the Russians viewed the operation of the Elbit System’s RPVs as a real provocation.
“It was clear that the Russians were angry,” says a defense establishment source, “and that the interception of three of these RPVs in the past three months was an expression of this anger. Not everyone in Israel understood the sensitive nerve Israel touched when it supplied such an advanced arms system to a country whose relations with Russia are highly tense.”
In May it was eventually decide to approve future deals with Georgia only for the sale of non-offensive weapon systems, such as intelligence, communications and computer systems, and not to approve deals for the sale of rifles, aircraft, sells, etc.
A senior source in the Military Industry said Saturday that despite some reporters, the activity of Georgia’s military industry was extremely limited.
“We conducted a small job for them several years ago,” he said. “The rest of the deals remained on paper.”
Dov Pikulin, one of the owners of the Authentico company specializing in trips and journeys to the area, says however that “the Israeli is the main investor in the Georgian economy. Everyone is there, directly or indirectly.”
Georgian minister: Israel should be proud
“The Israelis should be proud of themselves for the Israeli training and education received by the Georgian soldiers,” Georgian Minister Temur Yakobashvili said Saturday.
Yakobashvili is a Jew and is fluent in Hebrew. “We are now in a fight against the great Russia,” he said, “and our hope is to receive assistance from the White House, because Georgia cannot survive on its own.
“It’s important that the entire world understands that what is happening in Georgia now will affect the entire world order. It’s not just Georgia’s business, but the entire world’s business.”
One of the Georgian parliament members did not settle Saturday for the call for American aid, urging Israel to help stop the Russian offensive as well: “We need help from the UN and from our friends, headed by the United States and Israel. Today Georgia is in danger – tomorrow all the democratic countries in the region and in the entire world will be in danger too.”
Zvi Zinger and Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
Remember it was Russia in particular who have been friendly to Jewish people for thousands of years, in fact many Israelis came from Russia originally.
So why is Israel now attacking Russia? Well its not, its a small political elite who are behind this stirring up of trouble.
The vast majority of Israelis are good people, and want lasting peace. The people behind this are the Far Right wing. They are known as NEO CONS or Zionists.
It is often thought that Zionists are religious, but they are mostly atheist and are hard line no compromise sorts, a bit like the NAZIS.
What, A NAZI JEW, how ridiculous?
And YES it is ridiculous, but true.
Behind the attack on South Osettia are NEO CON Americans and hard line Zionist Israelis.
Who else would throw grenades down cellars to kill civilians hiding there? NAZIS!!!!!
They timed their attack to coincide with the start of the Olympics knowing the world press and media would get to South Ossetia in time to see only Russian tanks on the streets as a retaliation for the attempted Genocide of Russians living in South Ossetia.
Only the plan failed because news media was their during the aggression from Georgia using masked mercenaries in with its regulars to decimate urban centers hence deliberately forcing Russia to reinforce its piece keepers and expel the Georgian/ American & Israeli aggressors.
It must be stressed, these are Renegade Americans & Israelis, not regular forces, they are paid mercenaries who have committed Genocide and international war crimes.
Is Bush & Cheney behind this – Absolutely!
Another history-twisting Jew hater.
Russia, friendly toward Jews? For thousands of years, no less. Forget that the area now known as Russia was just a bunch of scattered tribespeople for most of that time, and focus instead on the pogroms of Jews by Russians from before World War I on. Look at all the difficulties Jews have encountered getting out of Russia to emigrate to Israel.
With friends like that, who needs enemies?
Israel is not "now attacking Russia". Does this guy think they've lost it? Can't he read? The article describes arms deals and how careful and circumspect the Israelis have been to NOT antagonize Russia.
Sorry but when critters like him crawl out of the woodwork, they just have to be squashed before they breed.
The article itself is interesting and gives good insight into the nature and fragility of the relationship between Russia and Israel
Couldn't agree with you more Black Sheep. Well said!!
"The vast majority of Israelis are good people, and want lasting peace."
Really? So, why do they vote nazi rulers? They don't seem upset about their leaders' bombing against Lebanon and Palestine.
I like Jews, I hate Nazis.
Well Done Russia –
It is Criminal NAZI Atheist Zionists Isrealis & American special forces who have both trained and armed the criminal NAZIS in Georgia who were recently murdering Russian civilian & Piece keepers in South Ossetia forcing Russia to intervene and stop the Israeli/American backed South Ossetian GENOCIDE.
1 – 0 to Russia. Well done Russia you get a GOLD meddal!
Black sheep – Louise
Personal name calling is the act of defeat, I propose "Black Sheep" would do better to actually read and understand what is actually written before she vents her obvious hatred of men.
And her other alias "Louise" should do likewise.
Fawdawi
you do have a valid point, but a minority can vote in a government.
Maximus, rather than making this personal, I'd like to point out that I am not "Black Sheep". Thanks.
Maximus,
Black sheep and Louise are not the same person, just thought I'd clear that up before it spins out of control.
Cheers for the heads up re Louise not being the Black Sheep.
Hey Black sheeple, so who was it who rescued many Israelis from the NAZI War Criminals? Hitler?
No Answer Black Sheeple, wonder why, because you are a FAKE JEW and 100% full of Sheep shit perhaps?
So, lets recap, who was it that trained the Georgian Genocide Criminals and sold them weapons to murder Russian South Ossetian women children and peace keepers?
ANSWER: NAZI Israelis and Neo Con NAZI Bush Supporters – thats who.
This issue has absolutely nothing to do with real Jews, REAL Jews are religious peaceful people – not NAZI Zionist Scum Slime Vermin who pretend to be Jewish.
How to spot a FAKE Jew or NAZIJEW:-
Firstly they try and stop your criticizing the NAZIS running Israel into the ground and selling criminal states WMDs and other weapons of destruction behind the population's back.
Secondly NAZIJEWS try and label all those who give criticism of Israeli weapons deals as “JEW HATERS” or “history-twisters” but really it is they who are the real NAZI Under scum VERMIN.
The people who really hate Jews are the Neo Con Nazis who run Israel and have effectively enslaved the Israeli population including the real JEWS.
It s time to Expose all the FAKE JEWS / NAZIJEWS for what they are – Closet NAZIS/ Zionists & Neo CON SCUMS.
You don't pull the wool over my eyes Black Sheeple, I see the sneaky weapons deals & training to Georgian murderers for what it is – A direct threat to Russia by the stinking Israeli leaders without knowledge or consent of the good real Jewish population.
How low could a MISLEADERSHIP GO?
Here is how low the misleader ship can go, stopping men feeding their families, that how low:
VIDEO: Scottish Activist Films Israeli Navy Shooting at Gaza Fishermen
http://www.blacklistednews.com/news-1524-0-12-12-…
Here is how low the current Israeli Misleader ship will go – they try and stop men feeding their families by shooting up unarmed fishermen:
Google blacklisted news then at that alternative new site go to the link which says –
VIDEO: Scottish Activist Films Israeli Navy Shooting at Gaza Fishermen
See the evidence for yourself.
But remember, in the past no doubt some weapons were delivered by ship to the now DEMOCRATIC Palestinians (but no were near the amount of weapons delivered by the DEMOCRATIC terror state of America to the DEMOCRATIC Terror state of Israel).